Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to open 10 border crossings in the latest sign of improving ties between the countries, which nearly went to war last year.

Speaking Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Sudan's Minister of Water Paul Mayom said that after months of intensive talks, the countries have created joint mechanisms to resolve their problems.

"And now we are really opening a new page for two countries to live together and to create very soft borders, borders which will connect the two peoples in the two countries together," he said.

The African Union is brokering talks to settle tensions between the two Sudans, many stemming from the south's breakaway from the north in July 2011.

Disputes over oil and territory sparked clashes on the border in April 2012. Three months earlier, South Sudan shut down all oil production rather than pay what it considered high fees to use northern pipelines.

Juba resumed exporting oil through the north last month, and the countries have agreed to demilitarize the border.

The sides have yet to agree on how to split up the oil-producing Abyei region, and both countries accuse the other of supporting rebel movements on their territories.